Giving to Charity: How to decide where to put your time and money.
Late nights, early mornings, long weekends…you work HARD to earn your dollars. So when it comes to giving some of it away, how do you know you are sending your hard earned dollars to the right place? It’s important to us (and likely everyone else) that the money we donate goes to organizations that will maximize it for the most good. Here are a few things to consider:
Their values align with yours–To start, look back over the last year at the things that significantly impacted you, both good and bad. For example, if you had a loved one impacted by illness, you might choose a cause related to that. Does your child enjoy music or art? Perhaps a charity that offers scholarships to kids that can’t afford these activities is appropriate. Something else to consider is if you would like to support a local, national, or international organization–or a mix if you are able to give to several.
Vetted through BBB and IRS–The IRS will be able to tell you if they legitimately have 501(c)3 status, and the BBB will let you know if they have any reports of misconduct or impropriety.
Get the data–There are a few sites out there that will give you the hard numbers about exactly where each donated dollar goes. Charitynavigator.org is our favorite, but givewell.org, guidestar.org and charitywatch.org are equally reputable. A good guideline is to look for an organization that puts less than 30% to admin and fundraising.
We have talked money, and now let's talk about time. While it’s true that donating your time doesn’t have the same tax benefit, its impact is no less profound. Perhaps you don’t have the funds to give, or maybe you love to roll up your sleeves and get out and help more actively. Either way, here are two great ways to find opportunities to help that suit you:
volunteermatch.org–Type in your zip code, and you will be matched with local organizations that need your help. You can filter by cause, skills, find things that are kid friendly, and even virtual opportunities.
catchafire.org–If you have a very specific skill set like accounting, IT, website design, professional coaching, or photography this might be the perfect place for you. Additionally, if you are a non-profit in need of these services, this is the place to post for assistance.
How do you decide what organizations get your volunteer time and donation dollars? What are the marks of a good organization in your opinion? Let us know in the comments!
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